Residents urge transparency on town land purchase and oppose denser development in public comments

Several residents used the council’s public comment period to press for transparency and express views on growth.

David Morrow (speaker 3), representing Baldwin Trust (40-acre parcel adjacent to a 20-acre parcel discussed by council), asked the town to be transparent about plans for the 20-acre purchase and noted the trust’s concern that the minutes from a prior meeting said a family had “no current development plans.” He asked the council to consider the $575,000 price tag and provide clear information about intended uses because the purchase affects nearby landowners.

Mike Anderson (speaker 10) said he opposes R3-style development inside the town and urged council attention to preserving the town’s residential character. He raised a separate concern about a sidewalk alignment on Highway 165 that he believed had shifted from the west side to the east side, which he said could place houses closer to the road; he asked whether that decision involved the Department of Transportation and asked councilors to follow up.

J. L. Brown (speaker 12) spoke on behalf of her Girl Scout clinic project and thanked the town for a donation that allowed her to run five free introductory gymnastics clinics; she reported that four participants received three-month scholarships to Westchester Gymnastics and said she hopes to run six clinics next year.

Councilors acknowledged the comments and invited follow-up meetings with staff (the mayor instructed commenters to call council staff to discuss specific concerns).